Trust your camera!!

[undercover art]

I've been an artist in other mediums for a least another decade than a tattoo artist, including photography. If you use a digital camera, Mop down the tattoo area with green soap ( as preparing for aftercare speech and application) and get someone else (C.C. risk to do it yourself) to snap a photo with your camera on auto mode. Beleive me, the camera's auto fflash mode will do better than you can do manually! Don't put ointment or vaseline on first, it causes a glare!!! If you use a standard (35 millimeter I hope) camera, Try doing the photo with as much ambient lighting as possible (although not direct, use light diffussers) and a Fast shutter speed. Take at least 5 photos, most blackrooms only charge for the photo's you want, edit out the ones that didn't work out! Also, think of setting up an area for optimaL photos, that way they all come out with the same light exposure, etc...A black room is also easier than keeping a sterilie autoclave room, So if you got room, give it a try!!!!Photography might even show you some new perspectives on art, so get into it!

[hotdiggitydawg]

Very good uca, I can also add to this.... Camera shake kills alot of photos i've seen posted... learning how to hold a camera will make your images consistantly sharper, stand (stance) with one foot in front of another as if you were being hit with a strong wind, hold the camera with both hands, tuck your elbows in to your body or rest your elbows on a solid surface and before you hit the shutter release take a breath in and exhale half of it then press it..... Now you can do this discreetly without looking like karate kid lol.

even better would be to use a tripod or even a monopod... but i can't see anyone being arsed with that lol...
food for thought eh